Health Care Cost Rises Again

If John Boehner has his way Medicare recipients will get a big boost in cost shifting to their pocket book to the tune of 75%. Here the increase is reported to be running about 50%.

What are your doing to regain responsibility over your health so you won't have to be at the mercy of these mercenaries?

By Parija Kavilanz, On Wednesday May 11, 2011, CNN

Health care costs for a family of four rose again in 2011, with employees paying a much larger share of the rising expenses, according to a new industry report Wednesday.American families who are insured through their jobs average health care costs of $19,393 this year, up 7.3%, or $1,319 from last year, according to independent actuarial and health care consulting firm Milliman Inc.More significantly, employers are making workers shoulder an even bigger share of total health care expenses.Of the $1,319 annual increase, workers' out-of-pocket costs this year rose 9.2%. That was more than the 6.6% increase the prior year.Payroll deductions for insurance coverage rose 9.3% this year, also more than the year before.However, employers' share of workers' health care costs fell 6% in 2010, compared to 8% the year prior. Of the $19,393 overall annual cost, employees' share is inching closer to 50%, said Lorraine Mayne, principal and consulting actuary with Milliman. Complete Article

How women fare with health insurance reform -

Excluding mammogram which we do not endorse because of its connection with higher breast cancer rates, this news shows that currently women are hit very hard because of lack of coverage.

NEW YORK, May 12 (UPI) -- Nearly all of the 27 million U.S. uninsured women and will have access to medical care once healthcare reform is enacted, U.S. researchers say.

The Commonwealth Fund 2010 Biennial Health Insurance Survey indicates women are skipping needed healthcare. Forty-eight 48 percent say they did not see a doctor when they were sick, didn't fill a prescription, or skipped a test, treatment or follow-up visit because they couldn't afford it -- up from 34 percent in 2001.

What is so amazing is the ideas put forward that show absolutely no connection to the issues in health care and sound ways to reduce costs while improving care. What irritates me even more is the latest form John McCain of Arizona who. .